Article of furniture



Dec. 1924- 1,517,674

w. J. GRAY ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed Oct. '7, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 wrrusss: ATTORNEY Dec. 1924- 1,517,674

- w. J. GRAY ARTI CLE OF FURNITURE Filed Got. 7, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet a 2 :9- C I l I I WITNESS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

\VILLIAFJI J.

FELIEF'L'ELD, JiIedEAItLd ARTICLE F FURNITURE.

Application filed tlctober 7, Serial lite. 593,630.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, l VILLIAM J. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at F airfield in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Articles of Furniture, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to furniture, and has particular application to a chair which is constructed so that it may be conveniently converted into a rocker bed, table, while the back of the chair may be adjusted to assume any angular position with relation to the seat, and certain component parts of the structure utilized as a tray, book rest, etc.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings the invention residing in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indieate similar parts in the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the chair arranged as a rocker.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof with an auxiliary chair attached thereto.

Figure 3 is sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the chair arranged as a table.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary front view showing the 'EQIIIlZll position of the rollers which are associated with the chair.

Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary view showing a roller carrying upright and the guide means therefor.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a detail fragmentary view showing the connection between a manipulating element and the extension.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figures 1 and 2, 10 indicates the lower part of the chair which is provided with runners l1, arm rests 12 and a back 13. The back 13 is hinged as at 1% and normally held in an upright position by means of braces 15 which are detachably connected with the back 13 and the adjacent arm rests 12. By reason of this construction it is manifest that the back 13 can be swung to any desired angular position with relation to the seat, and supported in this position in a manner to be presently described. The support for this back is illustrated in detail, and consists of two substantially frame-like members 16 and 17 respectively which are associated in a manner to allow the frame 16 to slide upon the frame 17. Each frame supports rollers 18. he frame 1'? is provided with a plurality of openings adapted to receive the pin 19 which holds the frames fixedrelatively in given positions. The frame 17 is hingedly mounted upon the back 13 as at 20 and normally lies parallel with the back as shown in Figure 1. When the back is arranged at an inclination to the seat of the chair, the frames 16 and 1'? are adjusted to vary the length of the support accordingly, so that;

the lowermost frame 16 contacts the floor or surface to support the back. In this position the braces 15 are arranged horizontally, being detachably connected with the frames 17 and the adjacent ends of the rockare 11.

Connecting the legs of the chair is a cross member 29 which supports a roller 30, and this roller is capable of being swung from a vertical to a horizontal position when its use is not desired. In order to convert the chair from a rocking chair, into a rolling chair, ll provide uprights 31 arranged adjacent the legs of the chair and mounted to slide in suitable guides 32 each of the up rights being provided with a roller at its lower end indicated at 33. The uprights 31 are associated with spaced pairs of parallel members indicated at 34 and 35 respectively, while these members are associated by a slot and pin connection. indicated generally at 36. I

The parallel members 34 are connected at one end by a cross piece 37 and the latter is provided with an extension 38, which in turn is connected with a vertically disposed manipulating member or element 39 which is actuated to elevate or lower the uprights 31. The parallel members 34 and 35 are pivoted as at 40 within the uprights passing through openings therein, so that when the said members are moved under the influence of the manipulating element 39. the standards can be lowered to bring the rollers 33 into contact with the floor, thereby converting the rock ing chair into a rolling chair, or the stand ards can "be elevated to their normal positions.

Arranged at one side of the chair is a smaller auxiliary chair including a seat 40',

v supporting legs 41 and a back rest d2, the

chair being hingedly mounted upon the seat of the main chair as at 43. The supporting legs 41 are braced by transverse elements eti which connect these legs with the adjacent 'l'egsof the main chair, and the legs 41 support rollers 45, so-that the auxiliarychair can be rolled over the surface simultaneously with the movement of the larger chair. It Willbe noted that theback i2 is hinged as at {6 .to the seat of the auxiliary chair and is normally held in an upright position by a brace 47, and that the legs 41 are hinged as ,at 4:8 to the underside oi the seat. The construction is such that the legs 41 may be ,folded beneath the seat of the chair, and the back-rest iQ folded to lie upon the seat after Whichthe parts in their entirety are swung downwardlyto lie at one side of the chair in a folded condition which arrangement is permitted by reason ofthe tact that the seat 40 is hinged to one side of the main chair as shown.

It is also possible to convert the chair into a table and for this purpose it is only necessary to separate the back rest 13 of the chair proper from the seat of the chair and also from its supporting structure including a=frame 16 and 1.7, andithen arrangeathe back rest horizontally upon the arm rests 12.

lVhile it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the inyention Will be readily apparent I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to What is herein shown and described, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of What is claimed.

d' hat I claim is: The combination with a rocking chair, of guide elements arranged adjacent eachileg ot the chair, uprights vertically slidable in each upright, spaced pairs of parallel members extending from the sides of said chair, one pair being provided with longitudinally disposed slots, pins laterally projecting from the other pair and adapted to be received in slots, whereby the members are slidably and pivotally secured "together for cooperative association for moving the uprights in the guidesin a manner whereby the rocking chair will be elevated and converted into a straight chair, a cross piece connectinorthe members carrying the pins, an extension projecting from the cross-piece intermediate its endsnnd a manipulating member rising from the opposite end of the extension.

Tn testimony whereof has. my signature.

WILLIAM J. GRAY. 

